Set in an era when unwed mothers were shamed and pressured into giving their newborns away, We Never Told is a slice of America when the Hollywood lifestyle was at its height. That era still haunts us today, because those babies did not disappear; they grew up and went searching. Sonya is determined to unearth her glamorous mother’s secret, but when she finally does, she discovers something much worse than those around her ever could have imagined.
This novel follows siblings Sonya and Joan, who’ve always known their mother was unhappy, despite her glamorous life. But when she leaves her young daughters to go to Kentucky and seek treatment for a mysterious tumor in her stomach, they are left without answers and motherless for four months. But when the maid watching over them has a heart attack, the girls are left alone for weeks, unable to contact their father who doesn’t know he has visitation rights. Years later, Sonya is horrified when she finds out the real reason why their mother disappeared without a trace for four months. We Never Told highlights the tumultuous lifestyle of unwed women in 1950s Hollywood and the children who were given up due to the expectations placed on women.
Altman’s writing is thoughtful and articulate…The author speaks with sophistication and style about the experiences of American women in the recent past.
Kirkus Reviews
In its finely observed depiction of family dynamics, We Never Told reminds me of Marilynne Robinson’s Housekeeping or Richard Ford’s Canada. This is a compelling novel that deserves to be widely read.
Graham Hillard, editor of the Cumberland River Review
Altman’s uncanny ability to yoke the everyday drama out of life and imbue her characters with an emotional complexity makes We Never Told a novel that gets to the essence of what family is. A tale that unfolds with nuance and an endearing sense of humor, this is the kind of writing that is impossible to shake as it bravely mirrors our collective experience of learning to love what feels at times impossible to embrace.
Liam Everett, award-winning artist
Diana Altman’s We Never Told is a witty, insightful, compelling novel about a woman’s journey to unlock a family secret that is burning a hole in her life. The deftly told story offers a fresh look at the way childhood myths cast shadows on adult life. This book grabbed me from the first page and never disappointed.
Nancy Newman, author, Disturbing The Peace
Diana Altman is a brilliantly clever novelist.
Scott Neuffer, Editor, Trampset.
There are stories relating to women that are as timeless as time itself. As advanced as society may become, there are issues that women and their children deal with that seem never to change. We Never Told is one such tale…Families are a sum total of all of their parts, no child is raised in a vacuum…That is the beautiful lesson of We Never Told. Altman weaves together an incredible story of women, children, families, care-takers…a timely read for today’s generation.
Macsbooks - book review
Love At A Girl’s School And Other Stories is an exciting anthology of stories that I found to be great short reads. I love the variety of genres in this book. It is the kind of collection with a bit of something that everyone can enjoy. The characters in each story are unique, and each plot has the perfect amount of depth and detail to keep you reading. My personal favorite is the story of Rupert, his owner, and the dog walker trying to find herself in a distant place. I recommend Love At A Girl’s School to readers who enjoy quick stories that are fun and entertaining. I hope that Diana Altman has many more short stories to add to future collections like this one.
Amy Raines for Readers' Favorite
Altman (author of We Never Told) delivers an eclectic collection exploring the nuances and strangeness of everyday life, the sharp immediate dramas that explode from tense situations. She balances hefty character drama—the weighty “Unwanted Babies,” where a pregnant teenager is forced to give her baby up at birth, only to spend her entire life searching for her lost daughter—with the whimsical, as in “Itty Bitty Betsy” chronicling the life of a petite purse secretary, meant to help women with their untidy purses. Even the most seasoned reader will find moments of surprise and tenderness in this collection.
booklife.com Reviews
